Timber treatments

WOODWORM DRY ROT & WET ROT TREATMENTS

Specialist timber treatments with approved safe chemicals with a 1 hour re-entry time

Woodworm, Dry Rot & Wet Rot Timber Treatments

We provide specialist damp proofing and timber treatments in Truro and throughout Cornwall along with specialist re-plastering techniques to coincide with all chemical damp proof course installations. The timber treatment carries our own 10-year guarantee which can also be complemented with an independent 10-year insurance guarantee issued by Guarantee Protection Insurance Ltd GPI .


Whether you require a specialist timber treatment and damp report in Cornwall or a woodworm specialist in Truro, Perranporth or Penzance or dry rot or wet rot treatments in St Agnes, Padstow, Newquay, St Austell, Bodmin, Wadebridge, Falmouth, Helston, Launceston or Looe we can help. Please contact us for a no obligation inspection and quotation (professional fees apply)..


Newseal Ltd are approved contractors for Permagard products- a leading manufacturer of chemicals for the remedial treatments industry.

Woodworm Treatments

Woodworm Treatments

Common Furniture Beetle(anobium punctatum), as the name suggests, is the most common insect that attacks softwood and European hardwood. Larvae hatch out from the eggs and burrow into the timber feeding on the sapwood, progressively weakening it, for up to four years; when fully grown the larvae are approx. 3mm long. Adult beetles emerge from the timber at the completion of the pupa stage through 1-2mm diameter flight holes.

Treatment of this beetle is by means of a water-based microemulsion insecticide containing permethrin is applied under a course spray treatment to all accessible, undecorated timber surfaces.

Dry Rot & Wet Rot Treatments

Timber decay arises as a result of severe dampness and is potentially the most destructive agent within any building. Decay by wet rot fungi such as the cellar fungus, Coniophora Puteana, tends to remain localised to the source of dampness and is restricted to the wood itself. If left unchecked it frequently causes joist ends and other bearing timbers to collapse, for example, where the joist ends are embedded in damp masonry.
Dry Rot & Wet Rot Treatments
TRUE DRY ROT (serpula lacrymans)

TRUE DRY ROT (serpula lacrymans)

However, infection by the true dry rot fungus (serpula lacrymans), can be far more destructive within a building than the wet rots, due to its ability to grow through and across inert substrates such as brickwork and plaster. This allows the fungus to contaminate other timbers within the building so spreading the extent of decay and destruction. Unfortunately, dry rot is rather ‘secretive’ in its activity, preferring stagnant, humid conditions. Hence, when it is discovered the damage it has caused is frequently very extensive.

The term ‘woodworm’ is often used to identify a variety of species of beetles the larvae of which bore into timber to feed causing structural weakening of the timbers where a woodworm infestation has been allowed to survive.

Following remedial timber treatment a period of time must be allowed to elapse before the woodworm infestation can be classed as dormant. This is as a result of the lifecycle for each different species of wood boring insect. For example, the lifecycle of a common furniture beetle within the timber can be between 4-6 years, with death watch beetle up to 12 years.

It is possible therefore to see what is believed to be an ongoing woodworm infestation following the completion of the treatment. This period is commonly referred to as the ‘residual flyout period’, during which stage the appearance of frass (dust) and fresh emergence holes may appear.

Common Furniture Beetle

This is by far the most common and widespread of wood-boring insects in this country, frequently found in older furniture and constructional timbers, particularly timbers in contact with solid walls, understair areas, cupboards and other areas that may have been affected by damp.

Death Watch Beetle

Death Watch Beetle infest hardwood (mostly oak) and softwood in contact with infested hardwood if some degree of fungal attack is present. It is often found in historic buildings where large quantities of oak or elm have been used structurally. The presence of death watch beetle can often be associated with damp conditions and fungal decay, although the infestation can continue, albeit slowly, in dryer timber.

For professional timber treatments in Cornwall, call Newseal Ltd on 
01872 271 615
"Phil and the team at Newseal have proven themselves to be reliable and punctual. Phil’s tests swiftly confirmed that our problem was caused by condensation and recommended the installation of a Drimaster Heat system. Phil arranged the installation which his staff carried out in a timely manner and with no mess. From the day after installation we noticed the improvement, our windows no longer had condensation in the mornings and the whole house smells fresher. I would have no hesitation in recommending Phil and Newseal and have already done so to a couple of clients."
 - Mr & Mrs G, St,Austell – January 2014
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